SUPERBOOTH 2024: Dirtywave - M8 MKII Tracker

At Superbooth 2024 we met Timothy at the Dirtywave stand who showed us the new model of the M8 tracker. After suggestions from users the portable hand-held music device has been updated with a bigger battery, a bigger display, with USB C stereo audio in and out, TRS MIDI in and out, and side by side with the original M8, it looks like a great improvement.
The new M8 is backwards-compatible with the old firmware, which means the updates for model 2 will be applied to model 1. A ton of new features have been added, including the addition of 4 freely assignable modulation slots, and a new swarm synth *Hyper Synth*, with 13 oscillators that allow you to do chords. Built in chorus, delay and reverb is the final dusting of sonic joy on top.
M8 MKII Price: 650 USD
dirtywave.com/
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[@supernatural802]

"hardware should have 0 latency, instant on off, and no loading screens" god bless Dirtywave. Cant wait to pick one of these up.

[@artephank]

Not only that. Since the all samples are streamed from SD card, there is zero time loading projects. You can even preview another projects when browsing which is mind blowing. In comparision, every other hardware or software looks like just sloppy code :)

[@mikamulperi]

Best gear of all time 10/10

[@aaronmoore3050]

12 hours of battery life is very wild.

[@artephank]

100%

[@DisposablePlanet]

“The best thing I could possibly make within the given constraints”. Too true

[@nu11s1eep]

I’ve been making music for 25 years and the M8 is the best piece of gear that I’ve ever owned. It is so incredibly well thought out and carefully considered from top to bottom - hardware, software, UX/UI - which gives it this uncanny ability to just *get out of the way* and facilitate the creative process. Nothing else has ever enabled me to go from song idea to finished track faster and more easily. I recognize this all probably sounds hyperbolic, but it really is the piece of gear that I’ve always dreamed of 100%.

[@AName-mg2bd]

agreed. the workflow is hypersonic and intuitive at an interdimensional level

[@HenleyBailey]

It's a shame people are put off when they initially look at it, they think it's all an excel spreadsheet which is such a shame as it's far from the truth and the layout and perceived complexity is more to make everything super fast to use once you get the hang of it. A few hours to get to grips with it and then years of losing yourself in the creative process of making sweet tracks without anything getting in the way is an amazing deal. Oh, and it fits in your pocket, what else do you want???

[@avrilcadabra]

Such an epic device! Thanks Trash80

[@256k_]

The M8 is hands down the best device to come out. Trash80 is a brilliant person and created the perfect device for music.

[@Digiphex]

I don’t need the new features but they are great. Definitely one of the best devices I have ever owned. The developer is a genius with a passion for this device.

[@solmare_]

No other piece of gear I've ever bought compares to the Model:01 M8, can't wait for my Model:01 comes in. Best purchase I've ever made.

[@najati]

music & feature per dollar & size, you can't beat the M8. if Trash80 were any less humble it would be turning this industry on it's head.

[@Primadosis]

Best gear got better 🎉❤

[@TheDjFac]

Simply the best piece of gear I’ve ever purchased. I got 2 and I’ll never sell them

[@SONWU]

Such an impressive job!

[@findjonmoses]

The interviewer didn’t do this justice. This is hands down one of the best buys I’ve ever made. Def getting the new version! Shame he didn’t ask about release date

[@fallprecauxionsmusic]

as much as I want the polyend tracker+, I think I might want this even more!!

[@artephank]

If being portable is important, this is the best thing that exists. Polyend Tracker is cool and perhaps better for real time play. But the workflow on this thing is amazing.

[@fallprecauxionsmusic]

@@artephank thanks much for your reply here. while portability is cool & useful, it's not a priority for me, really. as far as workflow goes, I've heard the M8 is pretty challenging to learn at first. would you agree?

[@artephank]

@@fallprecauxionsmusic it depends. The trackers are a bit challenging without prior exposure. I had some experience so have that in mind. Also, M8 is based on Gameboy trackers not PC/Amiga trackers, so there is additional learning curve. However, having it all in mind, the ux is phenomenal. I never used anything that intuitive and fast to use. There is literally like maybe 6 key cominations to learn that are repeated on every screen. It took me like one evening to get around. Now I can use it without thinking. Also, even after longer pause, I don’t need re-learning. So to me it was super easy, but I saw people freaking out seeing hexagonal numbers, so it might depend on person perhaps. Also, I don’t think it is more hard to learn than Polyend tracker. And both are surprisingly different. M8 is portable miracle. And super fast to use. Tracker has way more buttons and is better for real time playing and performance. Having experience with both, M8 fits me better and I find it more powerful. But portability was important to me and performance aspect not. Both are great devices and definitely trackers on hardware are more fun than on software

[@fallprecauxionsmusic]

@@artephank thank you again for your thorough & thoughtful reply. other than the fact that I'd unknowingly listened to & loved bunches of music made on trackers, I actually knew nothing of them until polyend announced their first tracker. I got it & really clicked with it. I'm not exactly that autodidact who's all fast at learning gear over here. but, for whatever reason, I took to the workflow of the polyend tracker really quickly. hexidecimal is just something I've heard mention of... like wave conjugations, or the necronomicon... I don't really know what the bleep is up with any of that... but I love what you're saying here about the M8 & its few button combos working across the different functionalities depending on what screen you're on, etc... & I most definitely like the list of the feature set & such. (I'm guessing the A-D/D-A conversion is solid.) & I love hearing the creator, timothy, talk... he seems like a really conscientious dude who's been developing a really kickass gadget for a good while now.

[@artephank]

@@fallprecauxionsmusic guys from Polyend are also great (we have mutual friends) and they are into music big time. I played with Polyend tracker a bit and if M8 didn't exist I would have it for sure. Actually I might get one since it is really great piece of gear. Funny thing, Trackers where developed on Amiga to overcome CPU/RAM limitations and now it is the same reason why they work great in relatively small and limited hardware. However, portability was important to me. And I fell in love with M8. It is different than trackers I knew, but in some ways more powerful, more intuitive and faster to use. The fact, that you can use it with only 8 buttons and it is very fast and ergonomic is mind blowing.

[@myvolts1903]

Whenever I see the name Timothy I think of Ronnie Corbett in Sorry! Also - this looks absolutely brilliant.

[@kieronmccarthy628]

What a great machine! The mic is another of the hardware upgrades that will be great to use. I can’t wait to go around the house sampling random knocks and clangs!

[@synthesauriov3195]

What a wonderful device! Been using M8 model 01 for a few years and checks all the boxes for me: great for composing on the go, for integrating it with other hardware, live performance and sounds amazing! Congrats of the model 02, can’t wait to get mine!

[@artephank]

The only thing that it would make it perfect is 16 tracks. 8 tracks is a bit limiting sometimes. Especially mono tracks. Also, having some sort of comb filter (or at least faster delay:) would by super nice. But still, the best sample mangling device on the market.

[@danielstrohhut4095]

That would be sick Bro. With this fanbase maybe in future he brings even a greater M8. All love to M8❤

[@artephank]

12 hours!!! I didn't feel the need to upgrade, but man, this is massive!

[@miguel_orama]

Simply amazing.

[@FloChai]

Superb upgrade and amazing community ❤

[@howlinberry1645]

Can’t wait to preorder mine!!

[@user-zv6is1mv5x]

Amazing to see this extremely portable tracker go next level! Love the mic addition, bigger screen and new housing (along with all the other added elements). 🎉

[@danibee535]

can’t wait for mine!! as soon as it was announced with usb-c it was an autobuy - very rare for me

[@jonbirchartist]

Big improvement on build and looks!

[@lcpumpkin]

Thanks for this video. Been eyeing up the new version since it was first announced but there's not been any footage showing it side by side with the mk 1

[@raysubject]

Absolitely epic piece of gear.. can’t wait to receive my order :-)

[@HenleyBailey]

Best device out there, everyone should own one from birth. The new one also has a built in mic now, I think that was very very briefly mentioned but is a big deal.

[@1wildrogue]

Best device I ever bought. Can't wait for the 2 to arrive at my doorstep!

[@crocoxt]

Can't wait! 👍

[@fumarolas]

now he needs to hire so we can buy this thing ;) every time I check it's sold out

[@ElectronisoundsAudio]

💙💙💙

[@phild5322]

Polyend need to take note of many things he talks about

[@blastman2154]

M8 tracker is a powerful nice device to create music. Discord community is nice and super supportive.

[@myceliumtechno]

The one question that I missed here was "What's next for M8?".

[@deyoungstar]

Easily the best sequencer I’ve used!

[@geecen]

Love my model 1 m8. This update seems awesome, plus you’ll probably be able to get a used model 1 for less if you’re happy with the older model. Win Win! ❤❤🎉🎉

[@djjuno106]

I wish I could buy these in UK

[@el_dani]

Do you have internet access and a credit card?

[@NetvoTV]

If you not mainly want to make 80s synthwave music, is it still for me, I like synthwave but sometime feel like they are overly used for device like this and the marketing for it is kinda aoit rhese as well, I'm trying to make futuristic modern sound, maybe country too and so on?

[@dep1001]

Aren't these always sold out? Why even bother coming to Superbooth and showing it... But cool that he does. Seems like an awesome device.

[@avrilcadabra]

The model 01 was eventually available from stock, the model 02 will continue to sell out on preorders for the foreseeable future, not like you can't buy them though. My model 02 arrived a few days ago. A lot of gear at super booth either cannot be bought at all (like korgs acoustic synth) or can only be ordered. As to why would a company that doesn't need to promote their product go to Superbooth, just to let people get hands on with the model 02, talk with the team and ask any questions etc

[@Gute_Laune_Goy]

in which country is this company located?

[@eiffe]

Availability?

[@teemac23]

Limited preorder batches with a lead time of several months. Two batches so far this year (first one is about to ship) with maybe two more batches planned. Next preorder scheduled for June 10th 7am PDT. Last one sold out in under an hour! I would recommend signing up for the newsletter and especially checking in on discord for updates.

[@NoiseCommander3DS]

Cool :) the battery life of mine is pretty much the only major gripe I have, it's pretty flawless otherwise.

[@mattbrown-mb]

@@_c_y_p_3 what's up with your negative bias?

[@Screenshot1015]

@@_c_y_p_3 go outside loser.

[@voodoohex72]

@@mattbrown-mb maybe the crazy price?

[@NS-br7ym]

@@voodoohex72 How are you justifying that assertion?

[@voodoohex72]

@@NS-br7ym Cause the unit is way overpriced?

[@davelee1935]

Can’t even pre order so annoying

[@0Fdigital]

from the Discord: "Preorders will open once again Monday June 10th at 7:00am PDT"

[@davelee1935]

@@0Fdigital Thanks man dying to get one :) great vid

[@amslu]

Show us new Polyend tracker!!

[@jkirchheimer]

Stop trolling! :) video for pet+ is out for over 24h already

[@Screenshot1015]

Huge news: it still sucks!

[@voodoohex72]

the price on these are rediculous just sayin.

[@Fragglecorp]

I agree, so ridiculous that the last 2 preorders of mk2 where out of stock after a few hours…just sayin

[@solmare_]

Ridiculously *good*. this thing does more than the tracker+ that was just announced and costs less.

[@voodoohex72]

@@Fragglecorp And imagine how much more orders if it was priced right. IE id probably get one if it wasn't for the high price.

[@voodoohex72]

@@solmare_ how so when tracker + has 16 tracks? And a much more friendly UI? Genuinely curious I don't have either.

[@voodoohex72]

@@Fragglecorp why cause they made ten? LOL Does't mean anything without hard numbers buddy.